Islam Makhachev needs a second title, and he’s prepared to go to excessive measures to get it.
On Saturday, Makhachev efficiently defended his light-weight title with a first-round submission over Renato Moicano within the UFC 311 primary occasion. The win was Makhachev’s fourth light-weight title protection, breaking the UFC report, and solidified his place as the highest pound-for-pound fighter within the sport. It additionally bolstered the concept that it could be time for Makhachev to maneuver up and pursue a second title, and whereas he’s not forcing the difficulty for the time being, the light-weight champion says that’s one thing he completely needs to do.
“I don’t know when it’s going to occur, however I advised them I’m not [going to] go away this sport with out second belt,” Makhachev mentioned in his UFC 311 post-fight press convention. “I would like the second belt to be, and after I’ll speak like ‘I’m the best’ or one thing. However proper now, my objective is to be double champion. I don’t know if it’s going to be subsequent struggle or when, [but] I’m nonetheless combating, nonetheless successful. I defend my belt what number of occasions the UFC needs, I’ll defend. Once they give me likelihood, I need to be double champion.”
Given his spectacular accomplishments, few would begrudge Makhachev getting a crack at double champ standing, nevertheless, there’s an issue: who he must struggle at 170 kilos. Makhachev is an occasional teammate and coaching accomplice of present welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, and the 2 have already declared they’re not concerned with combating one another. On prime of that, presumptive No. 1 contender Shavkat Rakhmonov additionally has some historical past with Makhachev’s workforce, which can additionally make that potential matchup much less interesting.
Fortuitously, Makhachev has an answer.
“I could be three-division additionally,” Makhachev mentioned of his title aspirations. “Simply give me the possibility, that’s it. I’ll struggle with [Dricus] du Plessis. If they provide me the possibility, I’ll struggle with him additionally. I swear, if Dana White sends me contract, I’ll struggle with him additionally.”
Du Plessis defends his middleweight title in a rematch with Sean Strickland subsequent month at UFC 312, and the winner of that struggle is anticipated to face Khamzat Chimaev subsequent. That doesn’t go away a number of room for Makhachev to sneak in a title struggle, and although the highest pound-for-pound fighter on the earth is clearly assured in his skills, he’s not prepared to say he can go up any additional than 185 kilos.
“No, it’s an excessive amount of [laughs],” Makhachev mentioned when requested about going through mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. “I would like the [Daniel Cormier] weight-reduction plan program to be 200 kilos [laughs].”
All issues thought-about, it looks like Makhachev is more likely to stick round 155 kilos, a minimum of in the interim. And whereas he was initially presupposed to rematch Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 till an damage compelled Tsarukyan out, that bout now not seems to be on the desk. UFC CEO Dana White mentioned Tsarukyan would wish to struggle agains earlier than incomes a title shot, which means the door is open for who Makhachev could face subsequent, and the highest pound-for-pound fighter on the earth isn’t choosy.
“Not my enterprise,” Makhachev mentioned. “I’m the fighter. Simply ship me contract, that’s it. I some new goal, I would like some job. I need to be busy.”